Association of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Promoter Polymorphism and its Serum Concentrations with Repeated Implantation Failure after Fertilisation: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a key role in embryo implantation and support endometrial trophoblastic interaction.

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between FGF-1 (rs34011) gene variety and its serum concentration with repeated implantation failure (RIF).

SETTING AND DESIGN

The design of the study was a cross-sectional study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred infertile women with a history of RIF and 400 healthy women undergoing the first fertilisation-embryo transfer attempt with successful delivery (controls) were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes and genotyped by Tetra-Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Serum FGF-1 concentration was evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

The ANOVA test was used to analyse the difference between the means of the groups.

RESULTS

In RIF group, the genotype frequencies of the GG, GA and AA were 59%, 33.5% and 7.5%, respectively, whereas in controls were 72.5%, 24% and 3.5%, respectively. The G and A allele frequencies in the RIF group were 75.75% and 24.25%, while in controls were 84.5% and 15.5%, respectively ( < 0.0001). We have also shown that serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF and control groups was 17 ± 3.55 and 23.62 ± 4.91 pg/mL, respectively ( = 0.008). We have also shown that AA genotype is significantly associated with decreased serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF (AA, GA and GG serum levels were 9.55 ± 2.65, 14 ± 3.35 and 22.55 ± 7.26 pg/mL, and in controls were 12.22 ± 2.27, 18.44 ± 5.98 and 26.66 ± 8.29 pg/mL, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that a significant association between FGF-1 (rs34011) promoter polymorphism and its serum concentration with RIF. The study also suggests that AA genotype is linked to lower FGF-1 serum levels and may play a risk factor for RIF.